I up for doing something on these roads/trails, too! Likely more toward Autumn for us, though. (Hulk Hogan???)

Vinduroman

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Sounds good! I thought you lived close by the beginning of the thread. I was thinking about you and thinking about hooking up sometime and you could show me around. Lookin forward to it. I will download the tracks when they become available.

I have an additional South Loop Option that will be in the route as well. It splits the Wolf Pen Gap Trails, and heads South from that split. It takes you over to the Albert Pike Rec area with an option for gas a few miles further in Langley. It used to utilize Forest Rd 512/Polk Rd 602. This was a must ride road for any DS rider coming to the area. I have some pics from when my wife and I rode it a couple of years ago.

This road had something like 30 creek crossings in like 10 miles. I guess I am really just teasing y'all now by showing you the pics and telling you about it . Since about May of last year (2011) the road has been closed and gated .

But there is still a reason to head down to this area - Blue Hole:

Fun roads to get to it, and a very loose challenging climb to the top .

Have I baited any of y'all yet ?

Back to my actual weekend ride...

I was headed back into Wolf Pen Gap, and heading back West now towards Oklahoma.

It's still early, and it's still empty.

Out of the OHV trails and back on a forest road. There is a road that climbs up to the top of a ridge that I have never checked out, so I go to have a look.

At the top .

I think this would be a great place to come to in the Fall when the trees are all turning colors. The vantage point is huge!

And a small section of easement to ride on for the way back down.

The rest of the ride over to Hatfield, AR is fast gravel .

And here's one that Safari Tanks might be interested in .

FYI, Hatfield has gas, along with some places to get a bite to eat. I hit a small section of local Hwy before crossing back into Oklahoma and heading back through the forest on the East end of K-trail.

This is a long section on forest road. It is fairly rocky and rough in some sections, but is a very fun road.

Noting another side road I would like to check out some time:

When I reach Hwy 259, I opt to take the fast way over to Lennox Ridge Rd to climb back up to the Talimena Scenic Drive, and back to my truck that I have left at the state park.

I don't spend a lot of time in this area today, because I ride through here a lot, and I have a pretty good grasp at what roads are good. Except, there is this one road that I had never been on, and I really wanted to check it out today.

The road comes off of Lennox Ridge Road:

I always try to squeeze in one more thing at the end of the day. Most of the time, that's when stuff usually turns epic on me - not always in a good way. But this road starts out really fun.

And gets smaller and rougher as we get further in.

And I start to wonder...

What I am getting myself into so late in the day :huh.

The road turns, and starts heading the wrong direction - I've missed a cut-off somewhere. But I am committed to the route I am on, because now it has turned into series of long steep climbs, and I can't get off this ride til I reach the top . No worries though, right? It's not like I am riding a fully loaded bike with worn out knobbies... Oh, wait... I am. . I end up dumping the bike once near the top, as I didn't quite spit a pair of large rocks like I had anticipated. But all the effort was rewarded when I reached a flat spot (not necessarily the top).

The trail led up to this outcrop of huge rocks. It was a pretty surreal place. I'm not sure why, but it sorta had a Middle Earth feel to the place. It may have been the adrenaline though .

There was a large tree downed across the trail just ahead of here, with no easy go around. I had no choice but to back track down the mess I had just come up.

On my way back down and out, I found the split off that I missed. The split linked me up with the CNT (Choctaw Nations Trail - Motorcycle Trail), which I used to loop me back to Lennox Ridge Rd, and ultimately back up to Hwy 1 (Talimena Scenic).

A few miles later, and I was back at my truck.

Looking the bike over.

Those knobbies won't go away.

This was an excellent little trip. I found a lot of interesting spots along the way, and rode a lot of tracks that will help me to finish up the Tour of the Ouachitas loop ride. The little WR has about 9,500 miles on it now, and just keeps buzzing along. I do nothing but change the oil in this bike.

Subscribed! Good stuff Dude! Great looking trails. I am interested in routes or tracks and will PM you with my info. We do monthly camping events in Arkansas and I have ridden some south of Russleville and around the Hot Springs area in the Ouachita NF but that area looks really neat. Where would be a good spot to set up camp and ride a dayride loop or two in that area?

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Oleary, I got your PM. I've got a couple areas in mind and I will shoot them over to you in a bit. Thanks for coming along .

This is literally just out our back door and down the road a ways!! (We live in eastern OK in Poteau.)

It's been years since I've ridden Wolf Pen. I recall there being some pretty neat stuff at that park, but like you said, pretty heavy use. LOVE some of the roads you're finding!!!

GOT to get me a GPS-thingie so I can download these tracks so the wife and I can explore/enjoy them!

Vinduroman

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Hey Vinduroman . I read your report from when you just picked up your WR250r, and noticed that I was riding right through some areas you had just been. If you've got the desire, a GPS is really worth the effort. Just add it to the list of other things you are buying for your new bike .

I'm just trying to keep you entertained while you wait for a new bike . You know that Orange bike would love to crawl over these rocks too!

jordan

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Great report man! I just happen to have the orange bike he is pining over. I've had it out in Wolf Pen Gap and it does love it. I would love to help you out with this project if you ever need or want some help. I live in Dallas area so not that far for a weekend excursion.

JT if you want to see if the 500EXC will work for you give me a shout... I hope your getting some useful info over on the 500 thread.

I think you were flirting around some moonshine stills in that overgrowth, and maybe an Equesterian or hiking trail....or three. But, what do I know?

Its only my (formerly) private backyard playground. No thanks to you.....its a lot harder putting the cat back into the bag than letting it out.

O'Leary.....Waldron is a good centralized target for your supply needs. You can basecamp at Sugar Creek or up on Poteau Mountain (2,600 ft elevation). All the marked trails at Sugar Creek are now open to motorcycles (formerly Equestrian only). No Potable Water at Sugar Creek, its primitive camping only. Knoppers Ford has "city boy" camping spots, but still no water available, other than the creek. So, pack it in.

Confirming....Hawcreek Store has closed for good (it appears). That was our only remaining source for fuel, groceries, & burger grill among the sticks in these parts. Now, you have to hump it to one of the nearby big cities for a pitstop. So, you'all better just stay away. Stick to the safer confines with pavement, motels, & McDonalds nearby. Better chance of living to see another day.

I think you were flirting around some moonshine stills in that overgrowth, and maybe an Equesterian or hiking trail....or three. But, what do I know?

Its only my (formerly) private backyard playground. No thanks to you.....its a lot harder putting the cat back into the bag than letting it out.

O'Leary.....Waldron is a good centralized target for your supply needs. You can basecamp at Sugar Creek or up on Poteau Mountain (2,600 ft elevation). All the marked trails at Sugar Creek are now open to motorcycles (formerly Equestrian only). No Potable Water at Sugar Creek, its primitive camping only. Knoppers Ford has "city boy" camping spots, but still no water available, other than the creek. So, pack it in.

Confirming....Hawcreek Store has closed for good (it appears). That was our only remaining source for fuel, groceries, & burger grill among the sticks in these parts. Now, you have to hump it to one of the nearby big cities for a pitstop. So, you'all better just stay away. Stick to the safer confines with pavement, motels, & McDonalds nearby. Better chance of living to see another day.

HF

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Hey HighFive... I figured you would know pretty much all the spots I was passing through. Heck, I was even using some of your tracks from an old Winter DS Ride .

O'Leary.....Waldron is a good centralized target for your supply needs. You can basecamp at Sugar Creek or up on Poteau Mountain (2,600 ft elevation). All the marked trails at Sugar Creek are now open to motorcycles (formerly Equestrian only). No Potable Water at Sugar Creek, its primitive camping only. Knoppers Ford has "city boy" camping spots, but still no water available, other than the creek. So, pack it in.
HF

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Thanks for the info. I didn't know that place even existed. Found the trail map on line. Equestrian trails open to ATV's. What do you know.

Sounds good! I thought you lived close by the beginning of the thread. I was thinking about you and thinking about hooking up sometime and you could show me around. Lookin forward to it. I will download the tracks when they become available.

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Oooo! That's right, you use one of those GPS-thingies!

I'm dead serious: Maybe this coming Autumn we can hook up, and the three of us (you, me, and my wife) can hit the Ouachitas and ride/see some pretty neat stuff. We're panzies, though: We like to find a cabin/motel with running water and good beds!! (If we do a multi-day.)

FWIW: One of the things I like about the Ouachitas in comparison to the Ozarks is the PINE TREES. They're everywhere. Both the wife and I love pines. We've ridden through some beautiful pine forests over the decades we've done the Ouachitas.

jglow:

Understood on your TOTO being a personal quest. Thought perhaps it was like the AR SLAP ride, or that annual Clayton ride some of the Okies put on.

You're right, you rode some of the stuff I rode the past couple of weeks! The wife, too, was with me on her bike over some of it.

Excellent ride report man and the TOTO is an excellent idea. I look forward to that being completed. The Ouachitas are a beautiful part of the country for sure. I spent a few days last month on the Ouachita River kayaking and 4-wheeling. I need to get up there on the bike sometime.

I'm dead serious: Maybe this coming Autumn we can hook up, and the three of us (you, me, and my wife) can hit the Ouachitas and ride/see some pretty neat stuff. We're panzies, though: We like to find a cabin/motel with running water and good beds!! (If we do a multi-day.)

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Sounds like a plan. I am all about finding new areas to ride and from what I have seen in this and various other threads your backyard would be an excellent place to explore. Looking forward to meeting you as well.

I am with you Brother on the motel room for multi-day rides. I must be getting old cause I do like my creature comforts when riding for the day is done. Fall sounds good if not before.

I don't think it blocks any of the headlight,but if it does then it's only a very small amount and I cannot tell the difference. The headlight is still plenty visible to any on coming traffic during the day.

Jglow,
Great ride report. I've ridden many of the OHV trails on the Oklahoma side on my dirt bike with only a backpack & other friends. We had a blast on the nasty rocky trails. I recently bought a KTM 950 Adventure. I'd like to ride it through the entire forest starting at Talimena St. Park, but can't take it down all those nasty trails. Is there a route mostly using forest roads I could take on 950?